Tottenham's season is hanging by a thread and if they don't beat those Dutch muppets AZ Alkmaar, Ange Postecoglou can start packing his bags, according to that muppet Perry Groves.
Do or die for Tottenham's trophy dreams
On Thursday it's do or die in Tottenham's bid to end their 17-year trophy drought. Postecoglou's lads slumped to a pathetic 1-0 loss away to AZ in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie last Thursday. The north London outfit registered just one shot on target despite having 62 per cent possession away from home. It was a bloody lacklustre attacking display across the board, with that useless on-loan winger Mathys Tel hooked at half-time.
Tottenham managed to salvage a 2-2 result at home against high-flying Bournemouth on Sunday, but the fact the Cherries had eight shots on target and one goal chalked off for offside will be cause for concern. The Australian knows his team cannot afford to be carved open in a similar manner on Thursday when AZ arrive for the second leg.
No future for Postecoglou if they don't win
Given the Europa League is also Postecoglou's last hope of maintaining his claim he always wins trophies in his second season, Groves believes anything other than progression to the quarter-finals could sound the death knell for the manager's time in north London.
"This is going to be the biggest game of his (Postecoglou's) career on Thursday here against AZ because his job rests on that game. If they go out and don't win that game he gets the sack and it might be at the end of the season. But there will be no future for him if they don't win that game and win the Europa League," Groves said.
Groves added: "I don't think the players are 100 per cent invested in Ange Postecoglou because he's not coming up with answers when they're coming against all these problems when they're losing games. They don't have another way to play."
Van de Ven's return could save Postecoglou's bacon
The return of Van de Ven after six games away will be vital to Tottenham's hopes. The Dutchman came on at the hour mark in place of Cristian Romero against the Cherries for his first Premier League minutes since December. Given Van de Ven's importance to Tottenham's daring high line, he couldn't have timed his return any better given the implications of what a defeat or draw on Thursday could mean for the club.
Tottenham's draw with Bournemouth leaves Postecoglou's side 13th in the Premier League on 34 points. However, if West Ham beat Newcastle on Monday night, then Spurs will drop down to 14th. But league position will matter for nought, at least momentarily, if Postecoglou's side can overturn the deficit against AZ on Thursday.
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